Written Answers

Monday 27 August 2001

Scottish Executive

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the case of a transfer of engagements from a housing association which is not a charity to a housing association which is, tenants who held assured tenancies with the previous non-charitable association and who are now tenants of the charitable housing association will have a right to buy under the Housing (Scotland) Bill as passed by the Parliament.

Jackie Baillie: Section 61(4) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (as it will be amended by section 43(5) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001) provides that section 61 of that Act (which gives the right to buy) does not apply where the registered social landlord (RSL) was, at Royal Assent of the Act, "a recognised body within the meaning of section 1(7) (Scottish charities) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990". We are currently considering what further provisions may be required in secondary legislation under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to protect any existing entitlement to the right to buy on the part of tenants whose houses are transferred to a registered social landlord which is exempt from the right to buy as a result of its charitable status.

  However, most assured tenancies of housing associations do not currently have the right to buy and, following commencement of the relevant provisions of the 2001 Act, they will in any event be subject to the operation of section 44 of the Act which provides for a 10-year exemption from the right to buy.

Housing

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to improve the collection of council house rent arrears in the light of the increase in total rent arrears reported in Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure 1999-2000 to 2001-02.

Jackie Baillie: In June 2000 the Accounts Commission and Scottish Homes published a report on Managing Rent Arrears . The report recommended actions that should be taken by both local authorities and registered social landlords to improve their management of rent arrears.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that people with mental health problems are actively involved in developing their own care plans.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland encourages mental health agencies to ensure that people who use services, and their families and carers, receive the necessary support to enable them to participate effectively in planning their care. Access to relevant information, advice, advocacy and other support assists people to make informed decisions about their care.

  The Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland provides a template for agencies designed to ensure that people who use services and their families and carers receive the necessary support to enable them to participate effectively in their own care. Access to relevant information, advice, advocacy and other support can all help informed decisions about individual care plans. This modernisation and responsive care agenda is continued in the forward programme of change and improvement set out in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change.

  How that change is delivered and how people who use services are kept involved and engaged with their own care planning requires joint working between the local authorities, the NHS and other relevant organisations. The Mental Health and Well Being Support Group will continue its review of agency progress with this modernisation agenda, including the user and carer dimension and will feed into the overall assessment and accountability process announced in Our National Health.

Sport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether pigeon racing will be classed as a sport and, if so, when.

Allan Wilson: sportscotland has no plans to seek agreement with the other UK sports councils on recognising pigeon racing as a sport. Decisions on the recognition of sports are a matter for the Sports Councils in the UK acting unanimously.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what rules, regulations and/or guidance apply to children, amateurs and professionals taking part in boxing.

Allan Wilson: The rules, regulations and/or guidance applying to children, amateurs and professionals taking part in boxing are contained within the Memorandum of Association and Bye Laws of Amateur Boxing Scotland Ltd. Copies can be obtained from ABS Ltd.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Amateur Boxing Association is required to adhere to particular medical standards and, if so, which body sets these standards and whose responsibility it is to ensure that they are complied with.

Allan Wilson: Amateur Boxing Scotland Ltd is required to adhere to the medical standards as set by the Medical Commission of the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA), the world governing body. It is the responsibility of the General Council, the Medical Commission and the Official in Charge of Tournament to ensure the standards are complied with.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the minimum age is below which children are not permitted to take part in boxing.

Allan Wilson: Children are not permitted to box until the year in which their 12th birthday falls.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who carries responsibility for the safety of those taking part in boxing matches and/or receiving coaching in community clubs and gyms.

Allan Wilson: The Official in Charge of Show, attending doctors and the Referee carry the responsibility for the safety of those taking part in boxing matches. The Head Coach of individual clubs carries the responsibility for the safety of those receiving coaching in community clubs and gyms.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the minimum qualifications are for boxing coaches and whose responsibility it is to monitor compliance with these requirements.

Allan Wilson: The minimum qualification for boxing coaches is the Coaching Certificate issued by the former Scottish Amateur Boxing Association/Scottish Amateur Boxing Federation (SABA/SABF) or Amateur Boxing Scotland Ltd (ABS Ltd).

  The ABS Ltd Director of Development is now responsible for monitoring compliance with these requirements.

Water Supply

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to reduce the 33% of water supplies its Water Services Unit estimates is being lost through leakage and what targets it has set in this connection.

Ross Finnie: The Executive will not approve new Water Orders or amendments to existing Water Orders for the abstraction of water for public water supplies unless the water authority can demonstrate that it has achieved the economic level of leakage for that supply. The Executive has no plans to set any targets for leakage reduction; it is considered that the overall drive for operational and capital efficiencies should provide the right incentives to achieve economic levels of leakage.